Heinrich and Sophia Schreiber

In 1875, Heinrich emigrated from Russia, along with his parents and his siblings George and Peter. The Schreiber's had no doubt heard the positive reports from two scouts from Norka, Johannes Krieger and Johannes Nolde, who had visited the United States in 1874.

Sailing from Liverpool, the family arrived in New York on June 28, 1875 aboard the City of Brussels. The Schreiber's were part of a small group from Norka that included seven families who were among the first Volga Germans to settle in the United States.

The Schreiber's and other members of the group originally settled in Bluffton, Ohio.

The Schreiber family arrived in Bluffton, Ohio in 1875 and it is likely that they disembarked at this station which served the community until 1899. The old structure remained across the tracks from the newer station which was built in 1899. The photo shows the old station not long before it was torn down. Courtesy of the Ohio Railroad Stations Past & Present website.

The family moved to North Franklin Township, Nebraska before 1878.

On January 8, 1879, Henry married Sophia (Sophie) Krieger in Franklin County, Nebraska. Sophie was born on November 9, 1857 in Norka, the daughter of Johannes Krieger (born 1828) and Anna Elisabeth Bäcker (born 1832). A son, Joseph, was born on March 28, 1880 and a daughter, Lydia was born in November of 1881.

Sometime after 1880, Henry's parents and brothers traveled to Oregon. His parents and brother George settled in North Plains (near Hillsboro) and his brother Peter settled in Portland.

Henry and Sophie made a decision to move to Kansas. Two sons were born there: Isaac (born March 1886) and Aaron (born May 1888).

By November of 1890, Peter and Sophie had moved to Oregon where a daughter, Elizabeth (Lizzie), was born that month. Another son, Louis, was born in February 1892.

In 1891, Henry was living in Albina on the south side of California Avenue, one block east of Margareta Avenue (later Union Avenue and now MLK Blvd.) near his brother Peter and many other early Volga German pioneers. Henry was working as a laborer.

Henry's father died March 16, 1891 in Washington County, Oregon.

By 1900, the Henry and Sophie, along with all their children, were living in Harper Precinct, Whitman County, Washington and Henry has returned to farming.

By 1910, Henry, Sophie, Lizzie and Louis and living near Fresno, California and are operating a grain ranch. By 1920, Henry and Sophie are living in Barstow, Fresno County, California and are operating a fruit ranch.